Lessons from 2024 to 2025 Cultural Heritage Safety

In 2024, our posts focused on significant events and issues that arose online, without following a specific objective, but rather trying to shape the information according to what the real world presented to us. The past year has provided a worrying overview of the vulnerability of cultural heritage to natural disasters, conflicts and vandalism. It is crucial to raise awareness of this issue and take concrete measures to protect and preserve cultural heritage for future generations. In light of the events of 2024, what lessons can the Cultural Heritage Security and Protection sector learn for 2025? Below we have summarised the main themes that emerged in the past year.

Increased focus on cultural heritage resilience

Many articles published in 2024 have placed emphasis on the concept of resilience, or the ability of a site or structure to withstand, adapt and recover from damaging events such as fires, earthquakes and floods. Research and implementation of strategies to improve the resilience of cultural heritage is set to intensify in 2025.

Impact of climate change

A European Parliament report highlighted the growing threat that climate change poses to cultural heritage. Initiatives to mitigate risks from extreme weather events, such as forest fires, floods and sea level rise, are likely to be more impactful in 2025.

Use of innovative technologies

The article on St. Peter’s Basilica highlighted the use of “digital twins” for emergency management and the safety of historic buildings. In 2025, we are likely to see an even greater deployment of technologies such as digital twins, IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor and protect cultural heritage.

Increased awareness of the risk of arson

Numerous articles have reported cases of arson in religious and cultural buildings. In 2025, it is hoped that the relevant authorities will step up their efforts to prevent such acts and improve the safety of buildings at risk.

Learning from past experiences

Articles that have analysed fires and disasters that occurred in 2024, such as the Rouen Cathedral fire and the Courtauld Gallery fire, offer important insights into improving fire safety and preventive measures. In 2025, institutions and professionals in the sector will have the opportunity to apply the lessons learned to develop increasingly effective protection strategies.

In conclusion, 2024 has highlighted multiple challenges for the protection of cultural heritage, but also a growing commitment to address them. 2025 promises to be a year of concrete implementation of innovative solutions and strengthening of safeguarding policies, with the aim of ensuring the preservation of our heritage for future generations.

In addition to these developments, 2025 is likely to see increased commitment from international organizations such as UNESCO or ICCROM to the protection of cultural heritage. The publication of new guidelines (like the UNESCO document on fire protection) and the promotion of good practices will help to strengthen the safety of cultural heritage globally.

The problem of damage to cultural heritage caused by conflicts has unfortunately been a sad reality in 2024. The sources analyzed by FireRiskHerritage highlight several situations where cultural heritage has been affected by conflicts and military actions from the Ukraine-Russia conflict to the Gaza-Lebanon-Syria scenario to Yemen, Sudan to the Destruction of Armenian heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, facts highlight how territorial conflicts can lead to the deliberate destruction of cultural sites.

These examples, while not exhaustive, demonstrate that the problem of damage to cultural heritage from conflicts is an urgent and complex issue. Increasing geopolitical instability and armed conflicts in different areas of the world make cultural heritage increasingly vulnerable.

The year 2024 has left us the important warning that the protection of cultural heritage requires constant commitment and collaboration at a global level. Only through joint and coordinated action will it be possible to protect cultural heritage from threats and preserve it for future generations. To address this challenge, it is essential to:

• promote international cooperation for the protection of cultural heritage in conflict zones;
• develop risk prevention and mitigation strategies,
• implement monitoring and surveillance systems to promptly identify any threats;
• raise public awareness on the importance of protecting cultural heritage, even in conflict situations.

2024 in brief: Cultural heritage under siege leaves us a warning for the future

2024 has come to an end, leaving us with a worrying assessment of the safety of cultural heritage. Fires, armed conflicts and the growing impact of climate change have severely tested the ability to protect these invaluable treasures. Dramatic events have shaken public opinion, highlighting the fragility of historic sites, monuments and works of art.

Numerous fires have devastated historic and religious buildings around the world, causing extensive damage and, in some cases, the irreparable loss of unique cultural heritage. Among the most significant episodes are:

• The fire at the Church of San Antonio in Iquique, Chile, on 11 October, which broke out during violent clashes and social protests.
• The fire that hit the Courtauld Gallery in London on 17 August, fortunately without causing damage to works of art.
• The fire that broke out on the spire of Rouen Cathedral on July 11, during renovation work.
• The fire that severely damaged St. Ann’s Anglican Church in Toronto on June 9, probably of arson.

But fire was not the only threat to cultural heritage in 2024. The destruction of many historic buildings and monuments in most of the war-affected areas, highlight how armed conflicts is a constant threat. UNESCO has warned of the devastating impact of war devices on cultural heritage, highlighting how bombs and missiles can cause irreparable damage to historic sites, monuments and works of art.

Added to this is the growing impact of climate change, with the increase in extreme weather events such as forest fires, floods and sea level rise, which put the safety of cultural heritage at risk around the world.

The key words for the future

In the brief analysis we have carried out, the key words that have characterised 2024 are:

• Resilience: It is essential to invest in the capacity of cultural heritage to withstand, adapt and recover from damaging events, implementing risk mitigation and post-disaster recovery strategies.
• Prevention: It is necessary to strengthen fire prevention measures, improve building safety and develop effective emergency plans.
• Collaboration: Safeguarding cultural heritage requires joint efforts at international level. Governments, international organizations, industry experts and citizens must work together to protect these priceless treasures.

Conclusions

Many articles published in 2024 have placed emphasis on the concept of resilience, or the ability of a site or structure to withstand, adapt and recover from damaging events such as fires, earthquakes and floods. Research and implementation of strategies to improve the resilience of cultural heritage is set to intensify in 2025. Moreover, the growing threat that climate change poses to cultural heritage has been highlighted. Initiatives to mitigate risks from extreme weather events, such as forest fires, floods and sea level rise, are likely to be more impactful in 2025.

The article on St. Peter’s Basilica highlighted the use of “digital twins” for emergency management and the safety of historic buildings. In 2025, we are likely to see an even greater deployment of technologies such as digital twins, IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor and protect cultural heritage.

Numerous articles have reported cases of arson in religious and cultural buildings. In 2025, it is hoped that the relevant authorities will step up their efforts to prevent such acts and improve the safety of buildings at risk.

Articles that have analysed fires and disasters that occurred in 2024 offer important insights into improving fire safety and preventive measures. In 2025, institutions and professionals in the sector will have the opportunity to apply the lessons learned to develop increasingly effective protection strategies.

In conclusion, 2024 has highlighted multiple challenges for the protection of cultural heritage, but also a growing commitment to address them. 2025 could be a year of concrete implementation of innovative solutions and strengthening of safeguarding policies, with the aim of ensuring the preservation of our heritage for future generations.